Moluf’s Supply, located at 530 East Bay Street in Charleston South Carolina has long been a fixture for anyone involved in the plumbing industry in Charleston-over 60 years to be exact. Founder George Moluf began his working career with Sears, given the choice between working in the automotive accessory department or the plumbing department. This was in 1934 and he worked for the minimum wage of 25 cents an hour. This lasted until President Roosevelt raised the minimum wage to $12 per week.
    In 1941, Mr. Moluf and wife Olga opened the first modern plumbing showroom located on Meeting Street in Charleston. When World War II began, the government froze the sale of plumbing supplies to $10 and only for the priority items. Shortly, after that Mr. Moluf liquidated his inventory closed the business and joined the Coast Guard.   After the war, he leased a building on Charlotte Street in Charleston and reopened his business. Moluf’s Supply is one of the oldest distributors in the country of Rheem Water Heaters and Eljer fixtures. Mr. Moluf recalled his initial efforts to acquire such manufacturers and how difficult it was to even get a representative of the companies to come and discuss the possibilities of his acquiring the lines, since at the time he was a one-man operation. When a Rheem representative finally came to Charleston, the salesman asked how many truckloads of water heaters he wanted to order. Mr. Moluf said “six water heaters, please.” He still has a copy of that check mounted on his wall for six Rheem water heaters, and to this day Rheem is the only water heater Moluf’s Supply has ever sold.
    Business went well at the Charlotte Street location for many years. Then in 1971 the State Ports Authority gave Moluf’s Supply eight months to move because of new laws and zoning ordinances. Luckily, Mr. Moluf had the foresight to have anticipated just such an event and had purchased land in 1955. He moved his business to this property and it is the location of Moluf’s Supply today. Mr. Moluf also anticipated the growth of the business and when the lot next door to his property became available he purchased it, which now provides the storage for much of their pipe inventory and trucks.
    George Moluf’s son Tony now runs the business. Tony worked at the company during the summer in high school and college, and began full time after his graduation from college in 1974. In September of 1989, Hurricane Hugo destroyed Moluf’s Supply, just as many other businesses along the coast. The entire building had to be rebuilt and was finally completed in February 1990.
    Moluf’s Supply is an ASID industry partner with a staff of knowledgeable employees ready to provide quality customer service to home-owners, plumbers, builders, and designers. Tony and his entire staff invite you to visit their showroom at 530 East Bay Street in Historic Downtown Charleston where their newly renovated showroom displays the state-of-the-art in kitchen and bath innovations.